Zac Efron’s Bodyguard Claims Actor Saved His Life In Skid Row Attack

Zac Efron is a hero! After the actor was viciously punched in the face on March 23 in L.A.’s Skid Row, his bodyguard is coming forward to say that Zac bravely saved his life during the scary attack.

Zac Efron‘s bodyguard claims the High School Musical star risked his own life to save the life of his bodyguard when the two were allegedly attacked by transient homeless men in L.A.’s notorious Skid Row area on March 23. Zac is on the mend after being punched in the mouth during the incident.

Zac, 26, and his bodyguard were on their way to a restaurant called Little Tokyo in downtown L.A. a little after midnight on March 23, when they ran out of gas at the bottom of a downtown L.A. off-ramp, the bodyguard told TMZ in a new interview.

Zac previously told police that while the car was stopped, he threw a bottle out of the window and it smashed on the pavement near a group of homeless men, who then became angry and attacked his bodyguard. The bodyguard claims the transients came at him with a spear and stabbed him in in the face, stomach and chest, according to TMZ.

That’s when Zac bravely stepped into harm’s way to help and ended up getting punched in the mouth, according to the bodyguard. “It was the hardest I’ve ever been hit in my life,” Zac said.

The bodyguard, who TMZ points out has a criminal record for drugs and violence, claims that — despite what Zac told police — the actor did NOT throw a bottle out of the car window.

Zac Efron Gets Into Fight With Homeless Men In L.A. On Skid Row

Police who were on patrol under the Harbor Freeway at the time of the attack witnessed Zac and his bodyguard in a full-blown melee with at least 3 other people. After breaking up the fight, cops questioned the High School Musical actor, and learned that he and a man he identified as his bodyguard had run out of gas and were sitting in the car.

Law enforcement told TMZ that no one was arrested because they viewed the confrontation as “mutual combat.”

According to California state law, “mutual combat” occurs when person “A” gives person “B” a chance to stop fighting. If person “B” does not stop and continues to fight — person “A” then has a right to defend themselves.

No official statement has been released from any party involved revealing why Zac was on that side of town. The area where this occurred is a notorious L.A. rough spot where cops are on high alert for drug deals and gangs.

Zac did two stints in rehab for a reported drug addiction in 2013, according to the Huffington Post. Another source confirmed to People that the actor had completed the treatments — telling the magazine at the time that Zac “is doing great,” and “he’s taking care of himself and it shows.”